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Is the UK political hurricane over Brexit likely to blow itself out, can Westminster politics stop the carnage, or does it require a different sort of intervention to limit the damage? After the drama of ministerial walkouts and a backlash against Theresa May's proposed withdrawal deal, we have two compelling arguments to shed light on the benighted chaos.

Camilla Cavendish, in her regular Saturday column, argues that the UK prime minister's most admired quality — her determination and resilience — could be what ruins the nation, if she sticks to defending her deal no matter the objections. It is not enough, she writes, to rely on fear of no deal to secure backing for a flawed blueprint. Mrs May must change course: “Someone needs to level with Brussels and explain that there can be no parliamentary support without, at the very least, proper clarity on the future relationship.”

Gordon Brown, former Labour prime minister, lays out an alternative plan. To get away from yet more partisan political bickering, he suggests a thorough listening exercise to explore new solutions to the problems which drove the vote to leave the EU. “The deadlock in parliament seems unlikely to be broken by MPs alone,” he writes. “We cannot reunite a divided country without breaking from the short-termism of current approaches, getting out of the Westminster bubble and listening to the country in a sustained way.”

Brooke Masters, Opinion & Analysis Editor, adds: We are so pleased that three of our columnists were recognised at this week's 2018 Comment Awardssponsored by Editorial Intelligence. Tim Harford was named Science & Data Commentator of the Year, Sarah O'Connor won Business Commentator of the Year and Miranda Green took home the prize for Culture, Diary and Social Commentator of the Year

What you've been saying

Janan Ganesh is right that Democrats must be careful not to overplay their hand, having taken control of the US House of Representatives in recent elections. But that should not be construed as an argument for timidity. The new House majority should spend its political capital judiciously, choose its battles strategically, and proceed quietly without grandstanding. It should focus where it can on building longer-term, solid bipartisan majorities in policy areas such as infrastructure or healthcare, restoring regular order, and once again governing.

The problem with Mr Stephens’s recommendation is that Parliament, whose authority Brexit was supposed to enhance, has shown itself to be utterly feeble. The number of MPs who have shown courage and spoken the truth to power could be counted on a single hand. Ken Clarke is the only one to do so with any charm.